Safeguarding

Photograph depicting paper people in caring hands

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility and promote the welfare of all children.

We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to. We maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned.

The purpose of the Safeguarding Policy is to provide staff, volunteers and governors with the framework they need to keep children safe and secure in our school and to inform parents and guardians how we will safeguard their children whilst they are in our care.

If we are concerned that your child may be at risk of abuse or neglect, we must follow the procedures in our Safeguarding Pupils Policy, a copy of which can be found in the policies section of our website: Policies.

Worried about a child?

It is everybody’s responsibility to keep children and young people safe. If you’re concerned that a child is being abused or neglected you should report it so that the child can be protected.

If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

If you have a concern about a child, please call MASH* on 0345 050 7666.

(Office hours: 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday; 8.30am – 4.00pm, Friday)

Outside office hours: Emergency Duty Team: 0800 833 408

MASH* (The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) is the front door to Children’s Social Care for all child protection and immediate safeguarding concerns. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern where a child is deemed at risk or has potentially suffered significant harm, the MASH team should be contacted immediately.

For example:

Allegations/concerns that the child has been sexually/physically abused

Concerns that the child is suffering from severe neglect or other severe health risks

Concern that a child is living in or will be returned to a situation that may place them at immediate risk

The child is frightened to return home

The child has been abandoned or parent is absent

A special helpline is available if you are concerned that a child you know is being sexually exploited. Contact the Kingfisher Team on 01865 309196.

If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with a child online

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

Additional support for mental health concerns:

In almost all circumstances we will talk to you about our concerns, and we will also tell you if we need to refer our concerns to the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Hub (MASH). We will inform you if we need to make a referral, but in some circumstances, we may need to make the referral without consulting you. We will only do this if we genuinely believe that this is the best way to protect your child and the fact that you did not consent to the referral will be recorded.

Furthermore we: